Westminster Annotations, 2 Samuel (2 Kings) · Chapter 8 – Chapter 10
CHAP. VIII.
Vers. 1. ANd after this it came to passe] 1 Chron. 18. 1, &c. Here, and in the following Chapters, he rendereth a reason why God would not suffer David to build his temple, namely, because he had no leisure, being by the LORDS will employed in these wars.
Metheg-ammah] Or, the bridle of Ammah; That is, Gath, a chief city of the Philistines, as appeareth, 1 Chron. 18. 1. which is here called Ammah, being situate on an hill: and a bridle, because by its strength it restrained enemies from envading it and the countrey adjacent.
V 2. measured them] That is, being victorious, he used them and their countrey at his pleasure, dividing their land by measure, and giving it to whom and in what proportion he pleased, and rasing their cities to the ground.
with two lines] That is, he divided the people which he had conquered and taken prisoners into three parts, so equally by lots, as if they had been measured with a line; one part whereof he reserved alive, and put the two other to the sword: for though God at first appointed his people to spare them, Deut. 2. 9. yet becoming malicious enemies, David exerciseth upon them this hostile severity, Num. 24. 17. 25. 17.
V. 3. Hadadezer] Called also Hadarezer.
Zobah] Psal. 60. 2. A part of Syria, Chap. 10. 6.
as he] That is, David went to settle his dominion in those utmost limits of it, which God had given unto his people, Josh. 1. 4. Deut. 1. 7. 11. 24.
V. 4. from him] Or, of his.
seven hundred horse-men] That is, tanks of horse-men, ten going to a rank, that is in all seven thousand, as it is expressed 1 Chron. 18. 4.
houghed] See Josh. 11. 6.
V. 5. Syrians of Damascus] Which were the chiefest part of the kingdom of Syria, and Damascus the metropolis or chief city in it.
V. 6. preserved] That is, prospered his attempts, and gave him victory.
V. 8. Betah and Berothai] Called also Tibhath and Chun, 1 Chron. 18. 8.
V. 9. Toi] Called Tou, 1 Chron. 18. 9. See Num. 13. 21.
Hamath] A city of Syria, some think Antioch.
V. 10. Joram] Named also Hadoram, 1 Chron. 18. 10.
salute him] Hebr. ask him of peace; That is, to ask of his welfare, and to congratulate his victory, Gen. 43. 27.
had wars with] Heb. was a man of wars with.
brought with him] Hebr. in his hand were; To wit, as a present from his father to David.
V. 11. did dedicate] To wit, for the use and service of the temple for which he prepared.
V. 13. a name] To wit, of a great warriour, and famous conquerour, Abishai in this service being his chief commander, 1 Chron. 18. 12. under Joab, Psal. 60. 1.
smiting] Hebr. his smiting.
valley of salt] Situate on the east end of mount Seir, without Syria, on the south of the dead sea.
eighteen thousand men] Which were of the Edomites, 1 Chro. 18. 12. as the verse following also implieth.
V. 14. put garisons] Over which was appointed a vice-roy or deputy, 1 King. 22. 47.
Davids servants] And of the kings his successours, till the reign of Joram, 2 King. 8. 22.
V. 16. over the host] That is, Generall of the army, 2 Sam. 5.
recorder] Or, remembrancer, or, writer of chronicles.
V. 17. Zadok the son of Ahitub] Of the posterity of Eleazar, 1 Chron. 6. 8. who was a chief, but not high priest, till Abiathar was deposed by Solomon, and he put in his room, 1 King. 2. 26, 35.
Abiathar] Of the posterity of Ithamar, 1 Chron. 24. 3. and son of Ahimelech, who was slain by Saul, 1 Sam. 22. Some think that both the father and the son had double names, and the one and the other called both Ahimelech and Abiathar, and so promiscuously Ahimelech is said to be the father of Abiathar, 1 Sam. 22. 20. and Abiathar to be the father of Ahimelech, as here, and 24. 6. See Mar. 2. 26.
scribe] Or, secretary.
V. 18. And Benaiah, &c.] 1 Chron. 18. 17.
Cherethites and Pelethites] Which were old, expert, strong and valiant men, like the Praetorian souldiers, which David chose for his guard, and made Benaiah captain over them. See 1 Kin. 1. 38.
V. 13. was same] That is, though he were lame, and therefore unfit to come to the kings table, yet David, out of his love to Jonathan, gave him this priviledge.
CHAP. IX.
Vers. 1. DAvid said] That is, enquired of his servants.
V. 3. the kindenesse of God] That is, great kindnesse, confirmed by covenant and oath in Gods presence, 1 Sam. 20. 14, 15, 16.
lame on his feet] Chap. 4. 4.
V. 4. Le-debar] Situate in the land of Gilead beyond Jordan, in the tribe of God, not …at from Mahanaim, Chap. 17. 27.
V. 5. fet him] That is, caused him to be brought to him.
V. 7. will restore thee] For David had now the right to dispose of them, because by the rising of the house of Saul, and warring against their lawfull king, they were confiscate.
eat bread] That is, eat and drink, and take thy diet with me at my own table, and be my daily guest.
V. 8. a dead dog] is, one very mean and contemptible, who am wholly unworthy of so high an honour. See Chap. 3. 8.
V. 9. Sauls servant] To wit, when he lived…; but now the servant of Mephibosheth.
masters sons] That is, Mephibosheth, the nephew or grandson of Saul, who usually in the Scriptures are called sonnes, Dan. 5. 11.
V. 10. masters son] That is, Micha the son of Mephibosheth, vers. 12.
CHAP. X.
Vers. 1. ANd] Compare this Chapter with 1 Chron. 19. where the same story is related.
king of the children of Ammon died] 1 Chron. 19. 1.
the king] Called Nahash, 1 Chron. 19. 1. and v. 2.
V. 2. shewed kindenesse] What this kindenesse was the Scripture mentioneth not, nor when shewed. Hierome thinketh that it was when he fled from Achish king of Gath; the which, it is like, he did out of hatred to Saul, 1 Sam. 11.
his father] That is, for his fathers death.
V. 3. Thinkest thou that David] Hebr. In thine eyes doth David.
to spie] That is, to discover some advantages, that he may the more easily surprise it; and thus some politicians think, That they are then most wise, when as they are most suspitious.
V. 4. buttocks] To discover their nakednesse, to their shame. So Isai, 20. 4. and 47. 2.
V. 5. at Jericho] That is, in some private houses set up in the place where Jericho stood before it was destroyed, Josh. 6. 24, 26. for it was not rebuilt till the time of Ahab, 1 King. 16. 34.
V. 6. stank] That is, had made themselves odious and abominable, by so soul and barbarous an act, in thus disgracing his ambassadours, against the law of nations.
hired] To wit, for a thousand talents of silver, 1 Chron. 19. 6.
thy Syrians] See Chap. 8. 5.
Beth-rehob] That is, out of that part of Syria in which the metropolis or chief city was Rehob.
Zobah] See Chap. 8. 3.
Maacah] King of one part of Syria, 1 Chron. 19. 6. neer Gilead Trachonitis, Deut. 3. 14.
Ish-tob] See Judg. 11. 3.
V. 8. the gate] To wit, of the city Medeba, in the border of the Ammonites, 1 Chro. 19. 7. Others understand it of Rabbah, the chief city of the Ammonites.
by themselves] To wit, that they might inclose Joab on both sides, as v. 9.
V. 12. for our people] To wit, which have been so injuriously abused and disgraced by the Ammonites and their king.
V. 16. sent] To wit, his agents, and hired the Syrians, which inhabited beyond the river Euphrates.
Shobach] Called also Shophach, 1 Chron. 19. 16.
V. 18. of seven hundred chariots] Which had in them ten fighting men in every chariot, which make up the number of seven thousand, mentioned, 1 Chro. 19. 18. See Chap. 8. 4. or seven hundred troops of horsemen in chariots, consisting of ten in a troop.
fourtie thousand horse-men] Besides the fourty thousand footmen mentioned, 1 Chro. 19. 18. For with such huge multitudes of men, the Syrians, and others in those dayes used to go out to battell, 1 King. 20. 10. So David is said to have gathered all Israel to fight with them.
V. 19. servants] That is, who were in his pay, and fought under him in his quarrell.
made peace] Yeelding subjection, and becoming tributaries.